Fitness Tips Blog

What are some sources of dietary sodium that people may not know about?

"Hidden sources of sodium to watch out for include sodium in soft drinks, preserved foods, baked goods, and particularly restaurant meals. When you order a meal at a restaurant, chances are it's loaded with sodium before you even put your hand on the salt shaker. Salt is an inexpensive way to add flavor to food and most restaurants use this to their advantage."

"Some surprising sources of dietary sodium include pretty much anything prepackaged or processed. The sodium in those foods helps in food preservation so spoilage during shipping and storage takes much longer to occur. Deli meats, too, are loaded with salt, for the same preservative quality mentioned above. Basically if you want to help lower your blood pressure and prevent excessive water retention, cut down on your sodium intake by staying away from prepackaged and processed foods, deli meats and most restaurant fare."

"It's important to pay attention to the sodium content of those breakfast cereals. It's not just about sugars with some of these cereals! Sodium not only contributes to the flavor but helps with the shelf life of the product. Better to go healthy; try Kashi GOLEAN or some of the other organic brands."

"Did you know that about 80 percent of the salt we consume is in the prepared foods we eat and does not come from our salt shakers? According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, about half of all the sodium we eat in a day comes from just 10 foods most Americans eat. The top six are known as the “salty six” -- breads & rolls, cold cuts & cured meats, pizza, poultry, soup and sandwiches."